The
Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship: Canada

Dr. Anita Borg (1949–2003)

Anita Borg believed that technology affects all aspects of our economic, political,
social and personal lives. A technology rebel with a cause, in her life she fought
tirelessly to ensure that technology’s impact would be a positive one. It was this vision
that inspired Anita in 1997 to found the Institute for Women and Technology. Today this
organization continues on her legacy and bears her name, The Anita Borg Institute for
Women and Technology (www.anitaborg.org).

Her capacity to mix technical expertise and a relentless vision inspired, motivated and
moved women to embrace technology instead of avoiding or ignoring it. She has touched and
changed the lives of countless women in the computing fields and beyond. She is
responsible for including women in the technological revolution – not as bystanders, but
as active participants and leaders. In 1987, prior to founding the Institute, Anita began
an email online community called Systers which today has 3,000 members from all over the
world. In 1994, Anita co-founded the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing
Conference. The Grace Hopper Celebration has grown to become the largest gathering of
women in computing in the world. The Anita Borg Institute is the umbrella organization
for both of these ongoing programs as well as the Virtual Development Center, TechLeaders
and a host of other dynamic partnerships and collaborations that embrace Anita’s ongoing
vision.

During her life, Anita’s commitment to her vision and expertise in the field gained her
significant recognition. In 1999 President Clinton appointed her to the Commission on the
Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering, and Technology. In 2002, she
received the Heinz Award for Technology, the Economy, and Employment.

Born Anita Borg Naffz on January 17th, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, she grew up in
Palatine, Illinois, Kaneohe, Hawaii, and Mukilteo, Washington. Anita found her way to a
computer keyboard in her mid-20s. She received a Ph.D. in computer science from the
Courant Institute at New York University in 1981. She then embarked on a brilliant
research career for some of industry’s commercial giants including, Nixdorf,
Digital/Compaq’s Western Research Lab and Xerox PARC.

Dr. Anita Borg (1949-2003) devoted her adult life to revolutionizing the
way we think about technology and dismantling barriers that keep women and minorities from
entering computing and technology fields. Her combination of technical expertise and
fearless vision continues to inspire and motivate countless women to become active
participants and leaders in creating technology.

As part of Google’s ongoing commitment to furthering Anita’s vision, we are pleased to
announce The Google Canada Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship, through which we hope to
encourage women to excel in computing and technology and become active role models and
leaders.

Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of candidates’ academic background and
demonstrated leadership. A group of female undergraduate and graduate student scholars will
be chosen from the applicant pool. The scholarship recipients will each receive a $5,000
CAD scholarship for the 2015-2016 academic year.

All scholarship recipients will be invited to visit Google in 2015 for a networking retreat
which will include workshops with a series of speakers, panelists, breakout sessions and
social activities. As an Anita Borg Scholar, you will participate in a unique program that
includes professional development as well as outreach in your community which kicks-off at
the Scholars’ Retreat.

You can hear from some of this year's Anita Borg Scholars on how receiving the scholarship
has impacted them:

Eligibility requirements

Applicants must satisfy all of the following criteria to be eligible:

be a female student currently enrolled as an undergraduate or graduate student at a
university for the 2014-2015 academic year

intend to be enrolled in or accepted as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student
at a university in Canada for the 2015-2016 academic year

majoring in computer science, computer engineering, or a closely related technical
field

maintain a strong academic record

exemplify leadership and demonstrate passion for increasing the involvement of women in
computer science

Application process

Please complete the online application which must include:

General background information (includes contact information and information about your
current and intended institutions)

Current resume

Academic transcripts from your current and prior institutions (if you have earned a
prior degree)

Two letters of reference from a professor, instructor, adviser or supervisor

Responses to four essay questions

Applications are closed for the 2015-16 scholarship. Applications for the 2016-17
scholarship will open in the fall.

Recipients will be selected based on the overall strength of their essays and application
materials compared to the entire applicant pool.

If you are a high school senior, the application for the Generation Google Scholarship (for
current high school seniors) entering a university in 2015-2016 will open in early 2015. If
you’d like to receive a reminder when this application opens, please
let us know.